After being awarded with just over £29,000, Ellon Castle Gardens purchased a team of three solar-powered robotic mowers to replace their traditional, diesel-driven tractor mower.

The heavy diesel-powered ride-on mower was noisy, time consuming, and costly to run; it caused environmental problems such as soil compaction, tree root damage, and carbon emissions. Now, the new solar-powered mowers will solve those problems and improve the lawn health by returning the clippings to the soil, removing the need for fertiliser.

With these robotic mowers, garden volunteers can spend the extra time within other aspects of the garden such as tending to flowers and the heritage apple trees. The solar power also means community events can continue despite ever-rising energy costs.